Hard Work

Last week, I participated in the United Way Day of Caring with my group at my corporate job. Our task was to clean out and level horse stalls. It was messy, manual labor, quite different from our office jobs on computers and usual group interactions.

Along the way, this photo caught my eye, with it’s repeating lines. I edited it this morning to share with the group, not planning to share it here.

But between this photo and some conversations going on in the Find Your Eye: Journey of Fascination discussion group, I’ve been thinking about the value of hard work. I’m not going to go out on a limb to say something has to be hard to have value, but there is something to be said for working hard and getting through to the other side in a different place. For sticking to something and seeing it through, whether it’s cleaning horse stalls or creating art.

There may be times we wish for something easier: An easier task, an easier creative process, an easier life. But would we value our successes as much? Would we find pride in our progress? Would we celebrate our accomplishments in the same way? I don’t think so.

This photo and these thoughts fortify me as I look at a daunting list of things to accomplish over the next few weeks. It’s time to grab the wheelbarrow and do the hard work. It will be worth it on the other side.

Come visit me at Fall Festival this weekend! My art can be found in the PhotoArts Guild booth (#114), and I will be working in the booth Saturday and Sunday afternoons after 2pm. I will also have pieces in the Philomath Open Studios Tour booth (#130). I would love to meet you!